How to Play "Over The Rainbow" by Harold Arlen on Piano
“Over The Rainbow” is in Eb major, 4/4 time, at 120 BPM. This lesson teaches a simple version of the song: the melody in your right hand and easy chords in your left, one phrase at a time. The song has 7 phrases.
- Eb major
- 4/4
- 120 BPM
- Easy
- Melody + easy chords
Free to play. Unlock the song or go Premium to download the printable Practice Pack.
What you need to know
Read from the song's own melody and chords. The left hand is kept simple on purpose.
Time signature
4/4
4 beats in every bar, at 120 BPM
The chords you play
The song uses 11 chords. You learn them a phrase at a time: Eb, Fm, Bb, Cm, Gm, Ab, Gdim, Abm, C, F and F#dim.
Some chords are simplified on purpose: the lesson plays Fm where the sheet music writes Fm/Eb.
Your left hand for this song
Slow arpeggio
We'll use this simple left-hand pattern to accompany the melody: low, middle, high, middle, one note a beat. One note a beat keeps it calm at this tempo.
Right hand
The melody
The tune the singer sings, one note at a time, with finger numbers.
The lesson, step by step
3 short steps for each phrase of the song. Each one opens in the lesson player, so you can listen and play along on your own piano.
- Start hereRight hand
Step 1: Melody
Listen, then play the tune with your right hand, with finger numbers.
Open this step - Left hand
Step 2: Chords
Your left hand learns this phrase's chords: a bass note, block chords, or a simple pattern.
Open this step - Both hands
Step 3: Hands together
The melody with your left hand's chords under it. When you can play this, you can play the phrase.
Open this step Then play the whole song
When you can play every phrase, play the full sheet music with its backing track in the player.
Play the full song
Frequently asked questions
What key is “Over The Rainbow” in?
“Over The Rainbow” is in Eb major, which has 3 flats: Bb, Eb and Ab. The Eb major scale is Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C and D.
What are the chords in “Over The Rainbow”?
The lesson plays 11 chords, one easy shape each: Eb, Fm, Bb, Cm, Gm, Ab, Gdim, Abm, C, F and F#dim. As the sheet music writes them: Eb, Eb6, Eb7, Eb/Bb, Fm/Eb, Fm/Bb, Fm7, Fm6, Fm7/Bb, Fm7/Eb, Bb7/Eb, Bb7, Bb, Bb9, Cm7, Gm and 10 more. Some chords are simplified on purpose: the lesson plays Fm where the sheet music writes Fm/Eb.
What should my left hand play in “Over The Rainbow”?
First your left hand learns each phrase's chords on its own, then with the melody. It plays a bass note or a block chord when the chord changes, or a simple pattern: you choose, and the same choice stays on both steps.
What tempo is “Over The Rainbow”?
“Over The Rainbow” plays at 120 BPM in 4/4. Every step starts at the song's tempo, and you can slow it down as much as you need.
Is “Over The Rainbow” hard to play on piano?
It is rated Easy. The melody goes from C4 up to F5. The lesson teaches a simple version: the melody and one easy chord shape at a time in the left hand.
Where can I get the sheet music for “Over The Rainbow”?
Play the full sheet music free in the interactive player, or download a printable PDF. Unlock the song or go Premium to download the printable Practice Pack. It is this lesson on paper, with fingering, one left-hand style per PDF.